UNION TOWNSHIP, MI (WTVB) – Under a policy that was adopted with little fanfare last year, the Michigan State Police no longer release names of persons killed in traffic crashes.
That includes the name of the Union City man who died after his motorcycle reportedly hit a deer on Francisco Road near Arborgast Road last Friday night.
Troopers from the Marshall post investigated the crash. The unidentified man died after being rushed to a nearby hospital. Scanner traffic indicated there were attempts to get a medical helicopter to the scene.
Life Care Ambulance as well as the Union City Fire and Police Departments assisted State Police at the scene.
The Traverse City Record-Eagle reported in an article written last December that they requested a written copy of the new policy but were told by a State Police spokesman there wasn’t one. Lt. Derrick Carroll said the policy change “was made in the best interest of treating everyone with dignity and respect.”
Michigan Press Association public affairs manager Lisa McGraw expressed concern in the same article. She said, “Why, all of a sudden, without any input from the public, did they decide that this would be the new policy? While we respect the families of victims, we are also always concerned, when records aren’t released, that there is a chance for a cover-up.”
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